Every year for as long as I can remember, my family would send tins of Christmas cookies to the neighbors. My mom says that it was actually my idea. I can’t remember for the life of me, but I’ll take the credit! It very soon snowballed and turned into a yearly baked-goods exchange. Christmas Eve became filled with visits from neighbors, walks around the block to deliver cookies, and returning home to find tons of sweets nestled in the chairs of our front porch. It’s a tradition that I was eager to carry over when NWH and I moved into our first home. ow, NMB is beginning to get into it! He loved walking to each of our neighbors’ houses, dragging his lawn mower with him (it’s his new “thing”), knocking on doors, and shouting “Merry Christmas!”
This year I’ve been on a homemade hot cocoa kick and decided to make Christmas Hot Cocoa instead of the usual cookies or fudge. It’s quick, requires few ingredients, can be mixed up in large batches, and little ones can join in on the mixing action, if you’re so inclined. This is an adaptation of the recipe from my favorite YouTube chef, Chef John.
Christmas Hot Cocoa Mix
(Makes approximately eight 8oz mason jars plus a little extra for yourself)
4c cocoa powder
6c sugar
4tsp salt (the salt is key to bringing out the sweetness! Don’t omit it!)
3tsp cinnamon
4 pinches of ground cayenne pepper
Mix all this up and put into mason jars, or whatever funky festive containers you like. When you’re ready to serve, mix two heaping tablespoons of he mix with 8oz of hot milk. I like to add a splash of vanilla for some extra flavor, as well. Mix and serve!!!
And here’s the conversion for a single cup, for when you just want a little bit of cocoa for yourself and don’t feel like making a huge batch.
One-Cup Cocoa Conversion
1tbsp cocoa powder
1.5 tbsp sugar
1 pinch salt
1 pinch cinnamon
1 pinch cayenne
Enjoy!!!
(Three Image collage of a toddler in a blue hat holding a lawn mower, a whit envelope with a cocoa recipe on top of mason jars, and a ribbon-wrapped mason jar filled with cocoa mix on a counter in front of a candle.)
Nerdy Black Mom 